Circular combing-machine.



I 4ZMEZM.

E. GREENWOOD.

CIRCULAR COMBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1912.

1,169,478, Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

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THE COLUMBIA FLAIIIOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

Patented Jan. 25,

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0, WASHINGTON. D. c.

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EDGAR GREENWGOD, CF BRADFORD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIRAM J. POTTER, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND JOHN V7. COGGESHALL, OF GRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND. I

CIRCULAR COMBING-MACHINE.

Application filed January 12, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I. EDGAR GREENWOOD, subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Bradford, in the county of York, England, have invented an Improvement in Circular Combing-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to combing machines, more particularly of the circular or so-called Noble tyne, and more especially to the comb dabbing and coasting devices thereof.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, 1 have disclosed av single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view, partially in transverse section, of one set of comb dabbing devices of a circular combing machine and the parts more immediately co-acting therewith; F i g. 2 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 1 1 Fig. Risa \iew upon an enlarge scale in side elevation and vertical section of the fiber positioning means and driving devices therefor; Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fi 2; Fig. is a somewhat diagrammati view of a portion of the wool combing machine to which my invention moreparticularly applied; Fig. 6 is a detail in vertica section: and Fig. 7 is a detail representing a modified manner of driving the fiber positioning means.

In Patent No. 838,321, dated December 11, 1906, and granted to myself and Joseph Greenwood, there is disclosed a portion of a circular combing machine and dabbing mechanism adapted to co-act with the large and small circle combs, said dabbing mechanism being reciprocated vertically to dab or force the fiber between the pin combs. While my invention may be applied to combing machines of other types, it is more particularly applicable to that type of combing machine and comb dabbing mechanism disclosed in said patent.

The circular combing machine is provided with a pillar 1, which is preferably that portion of the frame work of a Noble comb projecting above and through the center of one Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

Serial No. 670,752

of the small comb circles 2 indicated in Fig. 5. Said pillar is partially surrounded by a substantially Y-shaped bracket 3, the base whereof is represented as upturned as indicated at 4 in Fig. 2. lVith such upturned portion engages a similar upturned portion 5 of a bracket 6 provided with a slot and a set screw 7 passing therethrough and into the upturned projection 4, to adjust the bracket 6 vertically with respect to the bracket 3. Attached to the bracket 8 preferably by means of set screws 8 is a bracket 9 abutting against the pillar 1 and preferably arc-shaped in cross section to conform thereto. Preferably the bracket 9 is provided at its vertical edges with guide faces 10 with which engage adjustable screws 11 projecting from the reciprocating means for the dabbing devices, whereby the latter are guided in their movement as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Upon the bracket 9 is supported the driving mechanism for the dabbing devices, said mechanism preferably consisting of a shaft 12 mounted in a suitable bearing 18 in said bracket 9 and in a bearing formed in the outer end of an oil inclosing casing 15 secured by bolts 16 or otherwise to the said bracket 9. The shaft 12 extends through the casing 15at its outer end and is pro vided with a pulley 17 about which passes a band extending from any suitable and preferably overhead portion of the driving mechanism of the combing machine and with also apulley 18 from which is driven the adjunctive fiber positioning means he einafter more fully described.

The dabbing devices are preferably com posed of two sets of knives indicated respectively at 19 and 20 in Figs. 1 and 2, the knives 19 co-acting with one of the smaller comb circles and the knives 20 coacting with the larger comb circle. I preferably employ dabbing knives rather than brushes as the latter are liable to great wear and tear. Preferably the'knives are so positioned and operated that their bases or lower edges at all times project a slight distance below the tops of the comb pins, that is, they do not in operation extend above the upper ends of said pins. These dabbing knives are preferably similar to those disclosed in the said Patent No. 888,321 and may be correspondingly mounted. and adjusted. I impart dabbing movements to said dabbing knives and preferably by reciprocating the same up and down or in substantially a ver tical plane. Said knives are reciprocated at a very rapid rate, and I have experienced great difficulty in so mounting the driving means for the knives as to reciprocate them accurately and at a high speed for any extended length of time. I have achieved the best results by mounting the driving mechanism for the comb dabbing devices or knives in a lubricating receptacle. or oil casing, such as indicated at 15 and providing suitable connections between the shaft 12 in said casing and the dabbing knives. Herein for the purpose, I have provided upon the shaft 12 an eccentric 21 surrounding which is an eccentric strap 22, the upper portion 23 whereof extends through an opening 24 in the top of the oil casing 15 and to which is connected by a bolt 25 a ring 26 encircling the casing 15 and having formed therewith or attached thereto a foot or bracket 27 to which is adjustably connected a vertical threaded rod 28. Said rod 28 may correspond in construction to the similar rod shown in said patent and is preferably connected in substantially the manner disclosed in my said patent to a dabber carrier 29 constituting the forward portion of a preferably ll-shaped or forked lever 30, the arms whereof extend upon opposite sides of the pillar l and are provided with the said screws 11 whereby the vertical reciprocations of the lever are guided and con trolled substantially as disclosed in said patent. The said lever 30 is mounted at 31 upon the adjustable bracket 6.

Preferably I provide disengageable connections generally similar to those shown in my said patent between the clabber carrier and the vertical rod 28, so that when an undue obstruction is presented to the knives, the latter may rise and allow the obstruction to pass under and clear them, whereupon the dabber carrier is automatically returned to its proper position, all as more fully set forth in said patent.

The fiber that is acted upon by the combing machine and which may be wool,mohair, camel, horse hair or other preferably long fiber, is customarily delivered through a series of traps or boxes 32. a few of which are indicated in Fig. 5 and are thence presented to thelarge circle comb 33. A set of dabbing knives 19 and 20 is located adjacent the tangent point of the large circle comb and each of the small circle combs. Usually the machine is provided with two small cir cle combs, so that the combing action of the machine is repeated at substantially diametrically opposite points. After the fiber has been combed by being drawn upon by the pins of the large and small circle combs, it is then drawn from the larger comb by rolls or in any other suitable or usual manner. Continued rotation of the large circle comb and the movement therewith of the comb traps or boxes 32 results in the lifting of said traps and boxes, so that a further length of fiber may be presented to the comb pins, and then the separation of the leading ends of the fibers from the said larger circle comb pins. Immediately thereafter and preferably, the continued rotation or advance of the said traps or boxes is in a plane somewhat above the larger circle comb, as indicated more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, where a guide or supporting plate 33 is represented. Said plate underlies the inner ends of the fibers at this point and separates the same from the comb pins but terminates adjacent the bases of'the dabbing knives 19. 20, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 6. The continued travel of the traps or boxes presents the fibers transversely to the action of the dabbing knives 19 and 20 beyond the said plate 33'.

To secure the best results'it is important that thefibers be presented to the dabbing knives 19 and 20 in a substantially straight and smooth condition. These fibers are presented transversely to saidknives and are first presented to the inclined edges 34 thereof, under which they ride and are carried to the horizontal bases 35 of the knives. and by which the fibers are forced and retained below the points of the comb pins. I have found, however, that the dabbing knives and particularly the inclined faces 34 thereof, retard the said fibers, so that the latter are not presented in a substantially straight contraps or boxes 82 are thereby retarded or forced backward and are finally drawn under the knives in an oblique position. This causes the tangling or displacement of the fibers with respect to each other.

In order to present the fibers transversely to the dabber knives and in a substantially straight or non-inclined condition, while at the same time smocthing or stroking out the exposed ends of the fibers, I provide means to act upon the exposed ends of the fibers anterior to the action of the said dabbing knives, and preferably by engaging the upper surface of the fibers, as hereinafter more fully set forth. To this end, I have herein provided one or more and preferably two toothed wheels 36 here shaped as star wheels, mounted upon a shaft 37. itself rotatably mounted in a gear casing 38 that is secured said plate 40 may be slctted as indicated at e1 to permit up and down and swinging or in and out adjustmentof the gear casing 38 and hence of the star wheels 86. The outer end of the rod 39 is provided with a bearing bracket 42 wherein and in the gear casing 88 is mounted a shaft 43 having fast upon its outer end a pulley 4A driven by belt 15 from the pulley 18 upon the shaft 12. Fast upon the inner end of the shaft t3 and within the gear casing 38 is a pinion 4-6 meshing with an idler pinion 4L7 itself engaging a gear 4-8 fast upon the shaft 37 carrying the star wheels 36 and by which rotary movement is imparted at a suitable and preferably reduced speed to the said star wheels 36. T have herein represented the ratio of speed between the pinion a6 and gear 48 as two to one. Preferably, however, the said star wheels 36 are driven at a somewhat faster speed than the travel of the traps or boxes and the large circle comb, so that the said star wheels advance the fibers slightly in a transverse direction just prior totheir engagement by the said dabber knives 19, 20. so as to stroke C1 smooth the upper surface thereof and to straighten them out as previously described. The said adiunctive fiber positioning means 36 are located substantially as shown in Figs. 4- and 6, and preferabl slightly above the bases of the dabber knives 35, and preferably close to the inclined edges 34- thereof, so that their teeth engage the fiber and present it properly to the said inclined faces of the dabber knives.

I preferably provide a guard toco -act with the star wheels 36 and to insure the proper action of the star wheels upon the fibers. Herein said guard is represented as a sheet metal or cther plate 49 secured by set screw 50 to a head 51 wherein is a socket, through which passes the rod 39. By means of set screw 50, the said guard may be adjusted along said rod, so as to bring the guard in proper position with respect to the wheels 36.

In Fig. 7, I have represented a slightly modified arrangement for driving the fiber positioning means, here shown as star wheels 86. The oil casing 15 is secured as previouslv described to a bracket 52, generally similar to the bracket 9, but recessed to permit the mounting or formation upon the shaft 12 of a pulley 53, about which and a pulley 5% passes a driving band 55. The pulley 54: corresponds to the pulley 44: shown in Fi s. 2 and 3. The arrangement shown in Fig. 7 permits the more compact assembling of the parts and more ready access thereto.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the fibers are positioned by the star wheels 36, so that they are presented in a straight condition to the bases of the knives 35 and pass thereunder in such condition. The said star wheels or fiber posi tioning means 36 peculiarly co-act with dabbing knives, the bases whereof are at all times below the points of the comb heads, in that the fibers are straightened and then are immediately forced below the points of the pins and there held until past the knives and the tangent points of the large and small circle combs.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circular combs, traveling comb traps or boxes, comb dabhing knives having inclined entrant or re ceiving edges, means to impart up and down movement to said knives, movable means anterior in action to the said knives and located beneath the inclined edges thereof to position the fibers for the action of said dabbing knives, means to impart surface movement to said anterior means in excess of the speed of movement of said comb traps or boxes, and means to vary the position of said anterior means with respect to the fibers.

2. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circular combs, comb dabbingknives having inclined entrant or receiving edges, a driving shaft, connecting means between said shaft and said dabbing knives to impart up and down movement to the latter, rotary adiunctive means anterior in action to said knives and located beneath the inclined edges thereof, and connecting means from said shaft to drive said adjunctive means at a surface speed in excess of the speed of said large circular comb, thereby properly to position fibers for the action of the dabbing knives.

3. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circle combs, comb dabbing devices, means to impart up and down movement to said devices, means movable with the large circle comb to direct the fibers to said inclined edges. rotary adjunctive means anterior in action to said dahbing devices and having a surface speed inexcess of the speed of said large circl comb, thereby properly to position the fibers for the action of the dabbing devices, and means to vary the position of said rotary adjunctive means with respect to the fibers. 4:. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circle combs, comb dabbing knives having forwar. inclined edges, means to impart up and down movement to said knives, means movable with the large circle comb to direct the fibers thereto, and rotary means anterior in action to said dabbing knives and located in proxsubstantially imity to the forward, inclined edges thereof to position the fibers for the action of said knives and means to drive said rotary means at a speed in excess of that of said combs, thereby to position said fibers.

5. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circle combs, traveling comb traps or boxes, comb dabbing devices, means to impart up and down movement thereto, movable means anterior in action to the dabbing devices to position the fibers for the action of said dabbing devices, means to impart surface movement to said means in excess of the speed of movement of said comb traps or boxes, and means to vary the position of said movable means with respect to the fibers.

6. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circle combs, comb dabbing devices, means to impart up and down movement thereto, means movable with the large circle comb to direct the fibers thereto, star wheels anterior in action to the dabbing devices, means to rotate the same at a greater surface speed than the speed of movement of said large circle comb, thereby to stroke the fibers and to maintain them straight throughout their length, and means to vary the position of said star wheels with respect to the fibers.

7. A circular combing machine having in combination large and small circle combs, comb dabbing devices, a shaft, an oil inclosing casing therefor, and connections between said shaft and said dabbing devices and including means extending about said casing to impart up and down movement to the latter.

S. A circular combing machine havingin combination large and small'circle combs, comb dabbing devices, a shaft, an oil inclosing'casing therefor, connections between said shaft and said dabbing devices to impart up and down movement to the latter, fiber positioning means, and connections between said shaft and said fiber positioning means to drive the latter.

9. A circular combing machine having in combination large and small circles combs, comb dabbing devices, a shaft, and an oil inclosing casing therefor, and driving connections between said shaft and said dabbing devicesand including means extending about said casing for imparting to and fro movement to the latter.

10. A circular combing machine having in combination large and small circle combs, comb dabbing devices, a shaft and an oil inclosing casing therefor mounted above said dabbing devices, driving connections from said shaft extending through the wall of said casing downwardly to said dabbing devices for imparting up and down movement to the latter, means to position the fiber for the action of said dabbing devices, and'driv ing connections between said shaft and said positioning devices.

11. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circle combs, comb dabbing devices, 'a horizontal shaft,

a horizontal oil-inclosing casing therefor, av

rotary member upon said shaft, and means cooperating with said rotary member and extending about said-casing to impart up and downmovementto said dabbing devices.

12. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circle combs, comb dabbing devices, a horizontal shaft, ahorizontal oil-inclosing casing therefor,a

rotary member upon saidshaft and having comb dabbing devices to impart up and down motions to the latter, rotary adjunctive means anterior in action to' but closely adjacent to said dabbing devices, and driving connections from said shaft to rotate said adjunctive means.

14. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circle combs, comb dabbing devices, a driving shaft, connecting means between said shaft and said dabbing devices to impart reciprocatory movement to said dabbing devices man upright path, rotary adjunctive means anterior inac ion to said dabbing devices, and connecting means from said shaft to drive said adjunctive means at a surface speed in excess of the speed of said large circle comb, thereby properly to position the fibers for the action of the dabbing devices.

15. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circle combs, comb dabbing'devices, a driving shaft, an 011 mclosmg casing for said shaft, dr1vmg connections between said shaft and said dab- 'between said; shaft and said adjunctive means to impart said surface speed thereto.

16. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circle combs, comb dabbing devices, a driving shaft, an

oil inclosing casing for said shaft, driving connections between said shaft and said dab.- bing devices to impart reciprocating move? mentto the latter in an upright path, r0.- tary adjuncti-ve devices anterior in action to d dabbing de ices and having a surface speed in excess of the speed of said large circle comb, driving connections between said shaft and said adjunctive means to impart said surface speed thereto, and means to adjust the position of said adjunctive means with respect to the fibers.

17. A circular combing machine having in combination, large and small circle combs, comb dabbing means, a driving shaft,'an oil inclosing casing therefor, yielding, operative connections between said dubbing devices and said shaft to impart reciproeating movement to said dabbing devices,

star wheels mounted anterior to said dabbing devices, an adjustable bracket support for said star wheels, and driving connections between said star wheels and said shaft to drive said star wheels at a speed in excess of the speed of the large circle comb.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR GREENXVOOD.

WVitnesses:

EVERETT I. EMERY, F. IRENE CHANDLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

